My name is Derrick Brown and I am asking for your support as I seek a second chance at life. I was arrested when I was just 16 years old. Though I come from a loving family, my environment and circumstances made it difficult to stay on the right path.

I was exposed to gang life at an early age just 12 years old. My father was killed before I was born, and my mother struggled with addiction, incarceration, and her own involvement in the streets. Because of that, I was raised by my grandparents until I was 10. Sadly, they both passed away within a year of each other when I was just 10 years old. After that, my aunt took me and my siblings in. As a teacher with her own children and limited resources, she did her best but, without much structure, we were left to raise ourselves.

Growing up, I loved sports and had a lot of potential. But after suffering a serious injury during a football game, I lost my sense of purpose. The streets became a replacement for the discipline and brotherhood I had found in sports. Without a father figure, I looked to older guys in my neighborhood for guidance and acceptance, and they taught me the rules of gang life.

I witnessed a lot at a young age things no child should ever have to see. Those experiences hardened me and shaped my mindset, leading to arrests and time in juvenile hall. That life became my “normal,” even though it was far from the person I truly was inside. Despite everything, I’ve always had a big heart, especially for my sisters. I’ve always loved and protected them, and that same love is what now fuels my desire to give back.

I’ve been incarcerated for the past 20 years. During this time, I’ve worked hard to turn my life around. I’ve completed numerous self-help and rehabilitation programs and am close to earning my high school diploma. I remain connected to my family, and I’ve taken full responsibility for the mistakes I made in my youth.

Now, I want to use my story to help others especially at-risk youth avoid the path I took. I want to be there for my nieces and nephews and play a positive, active role in their lives. I want to be a mentor, a community leader, and a man who contributes to society in meaningful ways.

This petition is to ask for your support as I seek release. By signing, you are not only supporting my freedom but also the opportunity for redemption, transformation, and a second chance at life.

Thank you for believing in me.

Sincerely,

Derrick Brown